Youngest Sri Lankan at Everest Base Camp sets sights on Europe's tallest

THE youngest Sri Lankan to reach Everest Base Camp, Jaith Adithya Nathavitharana, achieved this feat at just 15 years and 4 months. Now, he sets his sights on summiting Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe, and Mount Vinson, the tallest in Antarctica. At 13, on 10 August 2023, Jaith summited Stella Point of Mount Kilimanjaro and pledged to himself to climb the Seven Summits, including Everest Base Camp, sooner rather than later. Mount Elbrus in Russia stands at 18,510 ft, while Mount Vinson reaches 16,050 ft.

- 

Seeing words 'Everest Base Camp' etched on rock was a surreal moment

"As cliché as it may sound, I am truly proud of myself. Strengthened by the lion's might, it was an amazing experience overall, and being the youngest there is simply the cherry on top," he says with a sense of achievement. A Year 9 student at Colombo International School Kandy with a penchant for History, Business Studies, and Biology, Jaith relied on his sports background in football and badminton to build stamina and endurance.

"In comparison to summiting Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp was truly more special. It was less rushed and more relaxed. We stayed about 30 minutes, taking photographs and enjoying the surroundings, whereas on Kilimanjaro, it was five minutes, one photograph, and then turnaround." Jaith, who collects ornamental fish and plays video games as hobbies, also swims and plays chess, adding to his vast extracurricular repertoire, which includes being a member of the Model United Nations.